Cutting wheel for flint igniters



June 8, 1948. p Q SQLON 2,443,123

CUTTING WHEEL FOR FLINT IGNITERS Filed Jan. 12, 1945 J 2 3 mm; 4

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y l Z -Z a 554i? E54 EiczS Elna INVEN TOR. Phil/ b O. -Solo/7 ATTORNEYPatented June 8, 1948 2,443,123. I l I our rme WHEEL FOEFLINTIGNITEKSPhilipfl; Solon, Oakland; Application January 12, 1945, Serial No.572,455

3 Claims.

1 The present inventionrelates to. improvements in cutting wheels forflint igniters, and its'principal object is to provide a cutting wheelwith a novel striking surface shaped for more efiective cooperation withthe flint f'or producing ea-spark and for maintaining the striking: endof theflint in effective condition.-

.More particularly it is-proposed to provide the improvements inconnection with a flint igniter commonly employed in cigarette lighters,although -it may be used for'other purposes.

In igniters-ofthis type it'is common practice to provide a rotary wheelwith a cylindrical abrasive surface and a flint in the form of acylindrical stud, the end of which is made to bear on the wheel surfaceunder spring pressure so as to produce a spark when the wheel isrotated.

In an arrangement of this character the end of the flint soon wears downto a concave surface corresponding to the convex surface of the wheelrim, whereby the sparking efiiciency of the ignition is greatly reduced.

In the present invention it is proposed to provide a wheel with astriking surface of a continuously varying striking angle whereby theflint is alternately ground at opposite points of the shoulder and atthe tip, and also at intervening points whereby the grinding down of theflint to a smooth concave surface corresponding to that the wheel isprevented.

It is further proposed to arrange the surface of the cutting wheel insuch a manner that the flint contacts the wheel, through the majorportion of the operation, at two spaced points only, and through theremainder of the operation, at the center line, whereby the operativevalue of a given spring pressure is greatly increased.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as thespecification proceeds and the novel features of my improvements will befully defined in the claims attached hereto.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing forming part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 shows a plan view of my cutting wheel;

Figure 2, a side view of the wheel, with a flint in operative relationrelative thereto; and

Figure 3, a cross-section taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4, a cross-section taken along line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5, a cross-section of Figure 1; and

taken along line 55 2; Figures; a cross s'ection taken along line--li'5of Figure r. v I

While- I have shown only the pr'ef'erreddorm of my invention, it shouldliveunderstood that various c'hanges or modification'=-may be madewithin "the scope of the claims hereto attached without departing fromthe 'spirit ofthe-invention Referring to -the drawing in detail, myflint igniter' l com-prises awheel? 2 which is rotatably mounted in aconventional m'anner, and a flint 3 of conventional cylindricalformhaving one end bearing on the peripheral surface of the wheel underthe pressure of a spring (not shown).

The wheel 2 may be provided with suitable side flanges 4 so as to leavean annular central track 5 against which the flint operates. This trackis ridged or roughened to provide an abrasive surface, in accordancewith common practice.

Only a small area of this track, indicated at 6, is left to retain itscylindrical surface. Merging into this area, from opposite sides, Iprovide two V-shaped grooves 1, which gradually deepen as they recedefrom the area 6, until they meet, at equal depths, on the opposite sideof the wheel, as at Ill.

The width of these grooves may be approximately twice the diameter ofthe flint, so that the shoulders of the flint ride on the inclined wallsof the grooves about midway their height.

The inclination of the walls of the grooves thus changes continuously,beginning, adjacent the flat area 6, with an angle of substantially zerodegrees with respect to the axis of the wheel, and gradually changing soas to form an angle of substantially 30 at their point of juncture onthe opposite side of the wheel, as shown in the detail sections ofFigures 3 to 6. The angularity may, of course, be changed in accordancewith the teachings of experience.

In operation, when the flint contacts the wheel at the deepest part ofthe groove, the side walls strike the shoulder of the flint at twodiametrically opposite points, and at an angle of 30.

The actual contact area is very small as compared with that of a flintbearing on a cylindrical surface, particularly when the flint has worndown to the surface of the wheel.

The friction caused by the spring pressure, therefore, is greatly inexcess of that caused in the conventional arrangement, and rotation ofthe wheel will produce a better spark.

As the wheel is rotated, the striking angle of the wheel changescontinually, attacking the end of the flint at constantly shiftingpoints on opposite sides of the center. And when the flint finally ridesover the non-grooved area 6 the center itself makes contact and isground down.

This continuous change in the angularity of the striking face preventsthe flint from wearing down to a groove fitting the striking face at anyparticular point. New striking points or striking edges will beavailable at all times and in all positions, and an old flint willproduce a spark with the same efliciency as a new one.

Thus my improved wheel avoids cutting down at the end of the flint to asmooth are on the wheel radius; it attacks the flint at continuouslyvarying points, and it reduces the contact areain all positions, therebyincreasing friction under a given spring pressure and producing a betterspark. I

I claim:

1. A cutting wheel for a flint igniter'having a peripheral abradingsurface comprising a nongrooved section and a grooved section merginginto the former section, the grooved section having slanting side wallsso as to causethe wheel to strike the end of the flint at opposingshoulders when the grooved section passes over the flint, and endwisewhen the non-grooved section passes over the flint.

A cutting wheel for a flint igniter having a peripheral abrading surfacecomprising a nongrooved section and a grooved'section merging into theformer section, the grooved section having slanting side walls ofprogressively changing 25 Number angularity so as to cause the wheel tostrike the flint at opposing shoulders and at varying angularities whenthe grooved section passes over the flint, and endwise when thenon-grooved portion passes over the flint.

3. A cutting wheel for a flint igniter having a peripheral abradingsurface comprising a nongrooved section and a grooved section merginginto the former section and increasing in depth to a point on the sideof the Wheel opposite the non-grooved section, the grooved section beingof uniform Width and having slanting side walls of progressivelychanging angularity to cause the wheel to strike the flint at opposingshoulders and at varying angularities when the grooved section passesover the flint, and endwise when the non-grooved portion passes over theflint.

PHILIP O. SOLON.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED. STATES PATENTS Name Date- Rossmann Oct. 13,1942 F'lorman Jan. 18, 1944 Miller Aug. 29; 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS CountryNumber Date r Germany July 8, 1933

